Leveling rod



Feb. 13, 1923.

C. A, IVICVIORRIS.

LEVELING ROD.

FILED sEPT.14.192z.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Feb. 13, 1923,

LEVELING ROD.

Application filed September 14, 1921. Serial No. 500,537.

T 0 all w72 om t may concern Be it known that l, CHARLES il. MoMonRis, a citizen of the United States, residing at North Bend, in the county ol2 Coos and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Leveling Rods, ot which the following` is a specitication.

This invention rela-tes tov surveyors leveling rods and has as one of its objects to provide a rod by the use of which differences in elevation between two points may be determined without calculation, thus eliminating` possibility oi error and effecting a saving in time.

The rod embodying the present invention is provided with a movable tape from which the readings are to be taken, and another object of the invention is to provide novel means whereby the tape may be `adjusted in the use ot' the rod.

j Another object of the invention is to provide means whereby, after the tape has been adjusted, it may be secured in its position of adjustment and subsequently readily released for further adjustment preliminary to taking' a further reading.

A further object of the invention is to 'provide novel means whereby any slack in the tape may be taken up or tension relieved, to thus compensate for expansion and contraction of the tape.

ln the accompanyingir drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the leveling rod embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the rod;

Figure 3 1s a vertical front tional view through the rod; l Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 4 4 oi Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a similar view on the line 5 5 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a semi-diagrammatic view illustrating one manner of using the rod;

Figure Y is a similar view illustratingV another manner of using the rod.

In the drawings the rod is indicated in to rear secl,feneral by the numeral 1 and the same may be made in any length desired andis preferably rectangular in horizontal cross section. At its upper end the rod has htted thereto a cap indicated by the numeral 2,

and a similar cap 3 is fitted to the lower end of the rod, the rod being recessed near its upper and lower ends as indicated respectively by the numerals 4 and 15. lThe numeral 6 indicates a yoke which is arranged within the recess 4 and which includes spaced side members 7 and a connecting n portion 8. A threaded adjusting screw 9 is rotatably mounted within an opening` 10 formed in the upper wall of the recess 4 or in other words in the end of the rod, and is provided with a head 11 preferably countersunk in the top of the cap 2 and provided with the usual slot 12 to receive the bit of a screw driver whereby the screw may be rotated. The lower end portion ot the screw lits loosely through an openingf 13 formed in the connectingportion 8 of the yoke 6, and a nut 14 is fitted into this end ot the screw within the yoke and in position engaging: the under side ot the connecting' portion 8 ot' the Said yoke. A similar yoke 15 is arranged within the recess 5 at the lower end of the rod and has associated with it an adjusting screw 16 arranged in the same manner as the screw 9. Pulleys`17 and 18 are rotatably/f mounted respectively within the yokes 6 and 15, and the adjustable tape heretofore referred to and indicated by the numeral 19, is trained over these pulleys. The tape 19 is endless and in its adjustment it travels in shallow channels 20 formed in the front and rear sides ot the rod 1 as illustrated in Figures 1, 8 and 5 o'l the drawings. Thus the outer vsideo't the tape 19 is brought substantially within the planes oi the front and rear sides ot the rod so that there is little likelihood ot the tape being engaged and torn loose through contact with other objects. At this point it will be evident that should the tape become tensioned through contraction or should it become slack through expansion. the tension may be relieved or the slack may be taken up by adjusting either or bothA ot the screws 9 and 16. Obviously this adjustment may be effected inr a convenient'manner and without displacing the tape.` At one point in its length the tape is provided with' a target 21 preferably consisting' of a zero character printed upon the outer tace of the tape, and from this mark the tape is scaled in opposite directions in `feet and inches as indicated by the nu Jneral 22.

For the purpose ofadjusting the tape 19, there is preferably provided the friction means best illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings. 4|This means includes a pulley 23 lined for rotation with a spindle 24 mounted in suitable bearings 25 in the ecn rod, the pulley being housed within a recess 26 opening through the Aliront and rear laces of the rod and being located immediately below and suitably spaced from the pulley 17. A crank handle 27 which may il1 desired be ot a foldable nature, is provided at deepened sufficiently to accommodate the thickness of the belt 28. lt will be observed by reference to Figures 2 and f3 of the drawings that the 'friction belt 28 travels in direct contact with the pulleys 17 and 23 and that thev tape 19 passes in contact with the .two stretches oi? the belt and the portion of the belt which extends over the pulley 17. lt will now be evident that 'inasmuch as the belt 28 is ol lriction material, rotation ot the pulley through the medium of the crank .handle 27 will result in travel ot' the belt `and in motion being imparted to the tape 19 so as to cause its forward stretch to move upwardly or downwardlydepending uponthe direction oit rotation of the crank handle. `it `this point it will be evident that by adjusting the screw 9, the belt 28 as well l as the tape 19 may be suitably tensioned, and

tom of the channel.

by providing, in addition to the screw ,9, the adjusting screw 16 at the lower end of the rod, the tape 19 .may be suitably tensioned independently of the belt 28.

Inorder that the tape 19 may be held in positions to which it is adjusted," a bridge Aplate 29 is fixed upon the rear face of the rod and extends transversely thereof and across the respective channel 207 and a binding screw 30 is threaded through the bridge plate and may be adjusted so as to bind at itsl inner end vagainst the tape 19 to grip the tape and the belt 28 between it and the bot Figure G of the drawings illustrates fully `.the manner .in which the -rod is to bei emv ploye'd in determining the diierence in elevation between two points. In this Afigure the reference letter L indicates a surveyors level which is disposed between the points 4the difference in elevation ott which is to be determined, and after the leveling instrument has `been set up in vpositionVthe rod 1 is placed 'for example in the position A and the tape 19 is adjusted to bring the target or Zero 21 to thev sight line of the instru j ment. .The binding screw 30 may then be tightened so as to secure the tape in this 'position of adjustment, whereupon the rod is carried and set up in the position B and,`

the reading then taken Jfrom the rod will intenses diselosefthe. difference in elevation between the two points A and B,

Under conditions where it is desired to erect a number el posts upon bases, piers, or the like, placed at various elevations, and it is desired to determine the required length of each post in order to bring the structure to be supported thereby to grade level, the instrument L will be sighted for grade level in Va line with the bases. and. the rod will be successively disposed in upright position upon the said bases and the several readings taken.

Having thus describedvthe invention what is claimed as new is: l

1. In a leveling rod, two spaced pulleys, a pulley spaced with relation to one of the lirst mentioned pulleys, a friction belt trained over the two last mentioned pulleys. an endless tape. trained over the two first mentioned pulleys and in trictional contact with the said belt and having a stretch eX- tending longitudinally of the yitront ot the rod, the said tape having a target point indicated thereon and having scaled units ot measurement `from said point, and means for rotating the third mentioned pulley.

2. In a leveling rod,upper and lower pulleys located near the upper and lower ends of the rod, an intermediate pulley located in spaced relation to one of the first men tioned pulleys, a friction belt trained over the intermediate pulley and the associated one of the first mentioned pulleys, an endless tape trained over the first mentioned pulleys and in frictional contact with the stretchesof the said belt and the portion oi? rone of the first mentioned pulleys, an end less tape trained over theirst mentioned pulleys and in frictional contact with the` stretches of the said belt and the portion or' the belt passing over the .related one of the first mentioned pulleys, the Said tape having a stretch extending longitudinally of the 'front of the rod andbearingia target point and sealed in yunits of measurement from said point, means for` rotating the intermediate pulley, and means operable to adjust one of the first mentioned pulleys over which the friction belt is passed in relationto the intermediate pulley.

4l. In a leveling rod, upper and llower pulleys located neer tlie upper and lower ends ol tbe rod5 en intermediate pulleyr located in spaced relation to one of the first mentioned pulleysc a friction belt trained over the intermediate pulle57 and the associated one of the lirst mentioned pulleys, an endless tape trained over the first mentioned pulleys and in rictionel contact "wit-l1 the stretches ol. the said belt and the portion ot' the belt pessing over the related one of the irst mentioned pulleys, the said tape lia-ving a stretch 'extending longitudinally of the frontof tlie rod und bearing e, target point sind scaled in units of measurement troni said point, means for rotating the intermediate pulley, means operable to adjust one o'l the first mentioned pulleys over which the friction belt is passed in relation to t-lie intermediate pulley, and means operable to adjust the other one of tlie First mentioned pulleys Witli relation to the other pulleys.

In testimony whereof I etlix my signature.

CHARLES A. MoMORRIS. f L. 5.] 

